Battery-condition indicator



1930. w. c. ZAGARINO ET AL 1,744,064

BATTERY CONDITI ON INDICATOR Filed May 22, 1928 INVENTORJ WILLIAM C.ZAGARINO.

Y MARSHALL T. MEDONALD.

I I ATTOR Patented .lan. 21, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM C.ZAGARINO AND MARSHALL T. MCDONALD, OF BELLMORE, NEW YORKBATTERY-CONDITION INDICATOR Application filed May 22, 1928. Serial No.279,832.

Our invention relates to storage batteries, Fig. 1 is a side elevationshowing the preand more particularly to a device for enferredinstallation of the battery condition abling the operator to maintainthe electroindicator on an automobile; lyte at the proper level, and tomeans for in Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-section of 5 dicating suchlevel. the upper part of a multiple cell storage bat- 55 Heretofore, ithas been necessary to remove tery showing the device (likewise insection) the vent or filler plugs of the battery, and as it appears inuse, and determine the level of the electrolyte in each Fig. 3 is a planview of a typical multiple cell by looking therein thru the filler plugcell storage battery showing the device in openings. Such practice isoften inconvenplace in each battery cell and showing 60 ient andundesirable due to the inaccessibility diagrammatically, one method ofincorporatof the battery, in some cases, and because ing a remoteindicating attachment. of accumulations of acid, dirt, etc., usually Inthe embodiment of the invention sepresent on the plugs. For this reasonmany lected for illustration (see Fig. 1) the prebatteries areneglected, and are irrepairably ferred arrangement is shown. It is notin- 65 damaged by the failure to keep the electrotended, however, thatthe invention shall be lyt lev l b e th b tt late limited to anyparticular type or any specific In th present invention a device inoruse, as certain modifications and uses, within porated in the batteryitself is made to registhe scope of the invention readily suggest terthe electrolyte level in a manner such themselves to those skilled inthe art, such, '5 that a positive warning is given to the obforInstance, as remote indicators for use server when and as the level ofthe electrowith radio batteries, where such batteries are lyte fall belothat l v l r uir d f corremoved from the radio receiving or sending rectoperation of the battery. Such indicaapparatus itself; remoteindicators, or direct tion is given automatically without thenecesttached Indicators on home lighting plant sity of removing thefiller plugs or handling tor ge ba e nd the like. th b tt i any wayReferring to Fig. 2, the battery container A further object of theinvention is to probox is indicated at 10 and the individual batvide aremote indicating attachment to the t'cry cells at 11. The positive andnegative 30 d i so that the operator or observer may plates and theirseparators (12) are shown determine, by observation, the condition of mmrsed in the electrolyte, which electrolyte the battery. Where a batterythus equipped 1S Illu trated at its approximately correct is sed o or in tion with an autooperating level. The opening 14 is the usual motivevehicle, such as an automobile, the threaded vent or filler plug openingformed 35 indicating attachment is preferably mounted 1 1 a l t rle lug15, whlch may be conon the h gh or instrument board thereof, structed Ofhard rubber or other material I101? A still further object of theinvention is effected by the acid in the battery, is the to use theenergy of the battery itself in attachment plug which secures the devicein operating the indicating attachment so that place on the batteryeither by screwing into 40 the unit will be completely self-containedand the opening 14 or by attachment in an openoperative in conjunctionwith the battery. 111g especially provided to receive 113.

A. device or battery condition indicator The attachment plug 15 18provided w th characterized as above set forth, when used an opening 16thru which the sliding rod 17 as an accessory, is adapted to supplantthe is free to move vertically. Said opening 16 standard type tillerplug furnished with stormay be of sufiiciently greater diameter than agebatteries now in use. the rod 17 to provide a vent or exit for the Otherobjects and-advantages of the invenescaping battery gases, or, ifdesired, a bywtion will be hereinafter more fully explained. pass 18 maybe used. A float' 19 is attached In the drawings, wherein like referenceto the lower end of the slide rod 17. This characters denote like orcorresponding parts, float, which may be made in any desired manner, andpreferably of acid resisting material, hassuflicient displacement tocause the unit composed of the float 19, the slide rod 17, and thecontact maker 20, to float upright in the electrolyte by means of theguide opening 16 in the plug. Contact maker 20 is removable from the rod17 in order to permit of assembly of the float 19 and rod 17 thru theopening 16. It is also adjustable, vertically, on the rod 17, and islocked in any desired position of adjustment by the set screw 21.

Contacts 22 are mounted on flexible conductor strips 23, and arefastened to the attachment plug 15, by binding posts 24. A Wire 25 isrun from one binding post Ql to one terminal 26 of the battery. From theother binding post 24 a wire is run to a switch 27, and from the switchto the signal light 28, and then completing the electrical circuit byits attachment to the other battery terminal 26. It is also understoodthat the lead wires 25 may be connected to the other cell terminals 29,or their connector straps 30, depending' upon the amount of voltagerequired for the light 28. As shown in Fig. 3, the component parts,including the remote indicator light 28 and the switch 27 may be locatedin some convenient place such as the dash or instrument board of anautomobile or other antomotive vehicle.

It will be readily understood by an examination of Fig. 2, that thelowering of the level of the electrolyte by'evaporation or other causeswill allow the float 19 and its attached sliding rod 17 and contactmaker 20 to lower a corresponding amount. A proper adjustment andlocation of contact maker 20 by means of the set screw 21 will thereforeclose the electrical circuit between contacts 22 and the binding posts24 when the electrolyte shall have fallen below a predetermined level.The operator, upon desiring to ascertain the condition of the battery,closes the switch 27. If the light 28 is lighted, it is an indicationthat the electrolyte in one or the other of the battery cells is low. Ifthe light remains oif, the electrolyte is suflicient in all cells for aproper and continued battery operation.

It is of course understood that the switch 27 may or may not beincorporated in the electrical circuit according to whether or not theindicator is desired to register automatically or just at such time asthe operator may desire. It is also understood that the wiring circuit25 may be such as to indicate, by a separate light for each cell, theindividual condition of each cell, or a similar result may be obtainedby multiple wiring incorporating one master light and a separate switchfor each cell.

The scope of the invention is also such as to include other indicatingmeans, as for instance, the ringing of a bell, to indicate the drop inthe level of the electrolyte. It is pended claim to cover all suchfurtherunderstood that the indicating light or other device may bedirectly attached to the plug unit itself if a remote indicator is notdesired.

From the foregoing detailed description of our invention in several ofits operative embodiments, the numerous uses and advantages are readilyascertainable. It is also equally obvious after understanding ourinvention that various changes and modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit or scope thereof. We aim in theapmodifications and changes.

What we" claim is:

In a battery condition indicator, a plug of insulating material havingan opening extending therethru, spring contacts disposed one each atopposite sides of said plug to extend beyond the outer end thereof, anelectrical circuit including a binding post for each said contact, eachsaid binding post being let thru one said contact to hold said contactsagainst said plug, an indicating means with in said electrical circuit,a rod extending thru said plug opening, said rod at its outer end beingcarried well beyond the corresponding end of each said contact, a floatupon the inner end of said rod, and a contact adjustable upon the outerend of said rod to vary the gap between said contacts, said adjustablecontact being movable with said rod under the influence of the rise andfall of said float to make and break said electrical circuit.

In testimony whereof we hereunto atfix our signatures.

WILLIAM C. ZAGARINO. MARSHALL T. MCDONALD.

